Parkinson accepts £25k damages

Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has accepted libel damages of £25,000 from the Daily Mail. The payout followed an article published last year that suggested he had lied about his family background.

Parkinson, 74, was at London’s High Court for the settlement of his action against Associated Newspapers. The Daily Mail has now acknowledged that the allegations were “entirely false” and agreed to pay damages and Parkinson’s legal costs.

The article, published on 30 May 2009, under the headline “Who’s Telling Parkies”, suggested Parkinson had behaved in a grossly insensitive way towards his elderly uncle.

A statement released by Parkinson said: “As a journalist myself, I have been reluctant to take legal action against any newspaper. Where defamatory allegations have published about me, I have always, until now, turned a blind eye.”

He added that the newspaper had “crossed a line” and said that he believed it was a matter of "common decency" for a newspaper to apologise publicly and promptly when they have made a mistake.

The Daily Mail issued an apology this afternoon. “We accept that Sir Michael had not lied about his family or been insensitive. We apologise for any distress caused and have agreed to pay him damages and costs."

The former chat show host has pledged to donate the full payout to charity, dividing the money between a school for orphans in South Africa and the Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust.